Yes, the space has been the Crow Collection of Asian Art, but the name is changing as part of a renovation and expansion. Part of the expansion is for displays, while the rest will be added to existing retail space.

Wouldn't it be nice if this collection expanded into the Belo Mansion, got some real money into the collection!

Come to think of it, Harlan Crow's collection would probably be better in the Belo Mansion (especially better than tucked away in Highland Park, viewed by appointment only) and Lucy B kicks in Two Arts Plaza for the sight of a museum worthy of the Orient (South Asia is being planned just down the road next to The West End).

The University of Texas at Dallas unveiled this week yet another example of how it's becoming a power broker, not to mention a major player in the region's art scene.

In an announcement shared first with The Dallas Morning News, UTD is acquiring the Crow Museum of Asian Art, giving it a presence in the Dallas Arts District.

But that's not all. The Crow Collection, begun by the late Trammell and Margaret Crow in the 1960s and expanded as a downtown museum in 1998, will donate its entire holdings to UTD in addition to supplying $23 million in funding for a Crow museum on the school's Richardson campus.

The Arts District location will remain, but a second museum will be built on the campus of UTD (along with a museum for the recently-acquired Barrett Collection).

Wildenthal said at least $20 million of the $23 million being given by the Crow Collection is designated for the UTD branch of the Crow, while a separate fund-raising effort seeks $20 million more for the Barrett museum. He envisions both as part of "an Athenaeum complex" expected to open in less than five years.

...

"It will still be one museum, but with two locations. We will be aligning ourselves with the resources of the campus, to have programs generated through professors, fellows and international partnerships."

Hofland said the Crow museum was attracted to UTD because of "what it's done in the last 25 years and where we see the university headed."

Plus, it gives the collection the chance to widen its Asian audience, many of whom had complained about the difficulties in going downtown. The idea that the region "needed an art museum north of Interstate 635 was," Hofland said, "incredibly appealing."

My partner- an insider in museums- had heard about this a few moths back from the Crow's Director. He had thought the museum was going to pick up and move to Richardson, but having two museums is a more comforting thought than losing a museum to the "burbs where is might have less appeal and foot traffic. Maybe they will have room between the two to campuses to show more holdings. Unfortunately, 16 people have been laid off. Perhaps to integrate the staff with existing and redundantpositions that can be carried out by UTD staff.

I've always loved the idea that one of universities would develop at Fair Park something along the lines of The Institute of Texas Cultures operated by UTSA. I had always though UNT would be ideal for an initiative like this since Fair Park so heavily oriented to art and performance and that's certainly a strength at UNT. Perhaps, though, UTD will take the position. Art and music students should infuse Fair Park.

I've always loved the idea that one of universities would develop at Fair Park something along the lines of The Institute of Texas Cultures operated by UTSA. I had always though UNT would be ideal for an initiative like this since Fair Park so heavily oriented to art and performance and that's certainly a strength at UNT. Perhaps, though, UTD will take the position. Art and music students should infuse Fair Park.